L.A. PARKER: Firefighter gave his all to help during the hurricane

All roads were blocked out of his Hopewell Twp. neighborhood, so Trenton Fire Btl. Chief Dave Turner settled for an old transportation option to reach his Engine 8 workplace on Stuyvestant Avenue.

Turner, 50, climbed aboard his Schwinn bicycle for a 17-mile trek that preceded a 36-hour shift up against remnants and ruins produced by Hurricane Sandy.

Turner eventually assisted on two city fires and helped rescue a male suspect who jumped into the Assunpink Creek to avoid police arrest.

“I think the wind was in my face the entire way. I’ve been on the force for 29 years. I didn’t even think about calling out. I’m kind of old school like that. I had a job to do and needed to make every effort to make it to work. I love working for the people in the City of Trenton,” said Turner, who needed to fix a flat tire before his journey.

Cool. Right? Come on. I know a lot of people are down on Trenton but stories such as Turner’s kind ot turns the tide just a smidgeon in our favor. Just the fact that an identified person loves his job should juice you up.

Turner had been scheduled for a 24-hour shift. He woke about 4 a.m. to find that a portion of his house’s roof had been blown away.

“We had lost power at about 7 p.m., So I had a few things to take care of before heading to work. I eventually noticed that there were downed trees that prevented me from driving. I thought about riding my ATV but knew that would be difficult. So, I settled for my bike,” Turner explained.

Joy here that Turner selected two-wheel travel instead of an all-terrain vehicle. ATVs and their riders rightfully have received bad press here, especially since a young man perished last week after crashing into another vehicle.

Morris Satchel’s death came several years after a city woman died after being run down on East State Street. ATV riders have petitioned city officials to provide a parcel of land for recreational activities, despite the fact that their machines are illegal on Trenton streets.

Turner, dressed in a yellow weather-resistant suit, could have been mistaken for one of the city’s ATV street riders.

The bike selection still offered challenges as Turner occasionally dismounted to tote his bike over fallen trees, climbed fences or maneuvered across lawns.

Turner found open highway on Reed Road then proceeded to Lower Ferry Road to Parkway Ave. Then onto Stuyvesant Avenue for a clear shot to Stuyvesant Ave.

“The ride took about 90 minutes. But it was great. I was sweating and wet, even needed a shower by the time I got to the station. But, man, I had a good time getting to work,” Turner said.

Adding 70 minutes to a daily commute may not offer you excitement, but Turner arrived at a job that offers him satisfaction.

“Sure, I could have taken a day but my dad taught me the value of hard work,” he said.

Turner had a productive day. He assisted at a Ohio Ave. fire where Btl. Chief Frank Fanning guided efforts that contained a small fire. The home had minimal damage but lives could have been lost after homeowners operated a generator in the basement of their home.

Turner on Tuesday night headed containment of a fire at a home in the city’s Wilbur section. Smoke and flames damaged the second and third floors of that Monmouth Street house.

No injuries or loss of life made for a positive ending to a potential dangerous blaze.

Finally, Turner helped out as police pursued suspect Javar Kidd, 23, who reportedly jumped into Assunpink Creek. Police said Kidd ditched his car then jumped into the creek.

Turner said firefighters used thermal imaging to locate Kidd hiding out near the city’s Transit Center.

Turner had extended by 12 hours his shift due to a reduced number of available firefighters.

Luckily, the city’s veteran firefighter did not have to ride his bike home.

“No way,” Turner said.Turner’s father, David Turner, a Hamilton Twp. resident and 35-year Army veteran, saved his son a second bicycle hike.

“We put the bike in the back of his pickup and headed home,” Turner noted.

All in a day’s work for Turner who, along with Trenton’s most dedicated firefighters and diligent police force, managed to keep the city afloat, so to speak, intact, and relatively safe during a historic destructive storm.

— L.A. Parker is a Trentonian columnist. Reach him at laparker@trentonian.com.